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Social Media in 2019: Are you ahead of the curve?

Posted January 31st, 2019

According to the Social Report, research shows that 2019 will continue to move further into live streaming and live video (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram). Television viewership conversely will continue to decrease. In fact, 67% of live viewers say they are more likely to purchase a concert ticket to see a band or attend an event if they’ve seen a live stream of a similar event online. Further, 45% of live audiences would pay to see a favorite athlete, team, or performer on an online stream. Video ads are on the rise too. 65% of ad impressions on Instagram were the result of video content, and we’re expecting that number to grow even further. Live streaming is becoming a part of our daily fabric, in our homes, in public, at work, on our phones, and even in our cars. Along with live streams, some newer trends are gaining steam as well. By 2019 chatbots will become more “normal” in the eyes of consumers. In other words: the novelty will fade but we will see them become more widespread and usable. We expect chatbots to be the first place someone goes to order a pizza, choose a mobile plan, or even book a hotel room. And then there are smart speakers. Smart speakers like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomePod have made waves in the consumer technology market over the past couple of years. And consumers love them: 65% of smart speaker owners say they wouldn’t want to go back to life without their voice-controlled assistant. Employers are increasingly being forced to revisit their hiring process to try and keep up. Paper applications went to electronic and now the ability to apply for a job in mere minutes via a mobile device is expected. Ready or not, the media landscape is changing. Books are being read on tablets and phones. News is being delivered in headlines and sound bites across all digital platforms. Paper boys (and girls) are all but extinct. Who knows what 2020 will bring, but for now it seems social media influence through live stream advertising and videos, chat bots, and even smart speakers have already had an impact on the decisions we make whether we realize it or not.